The Don’s Secret Family

I woke in the middle of the night to my Don husband murmuring in his sleep.

“Juno, be good. Tomorrow I’ll buy you and Mamma a new house.”

My eyes flew open.

Juno?

That was the name I’d always planned for a purebred Ceylon cat I dreamed of owning, but I’d never gotten one because of my pet fur allergy.

And a new house?

Could this just be a coincidence?

I shook him lightly. “What did you just say?”

He frowned and mumbled coarsely, “Had a nightmare. Dreamt of a shootout.”

I didn’t press further.

In the darkness, I reached for his phone and silently opened his messages.

I woke in the middle of the night to my husband, Don Leonardo Demarco, murmuring in his sleep.

“Juno, be good. Tomorrow I’ll buy you and Mamma a new house.”

My eyes flew open.

Juno?

That had always been the name I wanted for the Ceylon cat I dreamed of owning. I’d never gotten one because of my pet fur allergy, though I’d been in treatment for years.

And a new house?

Next month is my 25th birthday. The doctor said I could safely be around animals again.

Could Leonardo be planning a surprise?

I shook him lightly. “What did you just say?”

He frowned and mumbled, voice thick with sleep, “Had a nightmare. Dreamt of a shootout.”

I didn’t press further.

In the darkness, I reached for his phone and silently opened his messages.

There was a transfer of two million dollars to Sienna Russo with a remark, “Full payment for the house.”

It was dated two months ago.

I searched for Sienna Russo on social media, and the pinned post was a photo of my favorite cat breed, a Ceylon.

The caption read: [My favorite Ceylon kitten. I want to take it home.]

That was posted six months ago.

Five months ago, she posted: [I finally have my own little kitty. So happy.] The photo showed Sienna’s and Leonardo’s hands clasped together, gently stroking the cat.

Then, four months ago: [Overflowing happiness. We’re the happiest family of three in the world.] The photo was of Sienna cradling the cat while leaning into Leonardo’s arms.

His arms were gently wrapped around her waist as he tilted his head downward, looking at the woman and the cat with adoring tenderness.

It was a tenderness and devotion I had never seen in the two years of our marriage.

Three months ago, she posted: [Finally bringing our baby home! Kitty’s father and I officially named it Juno. The stars in the sky are its eyes, silently watching over us forever. So blessed!]

It was a photo showing Sienna leaning gently on Leonardo’s shoulder, both smiling sweetly as they gently stroked Juno the Ceylon cat in her arms.

I couldn’t help but recall how I’d mentioned Ceylon cats to Leonardo when we were newlyweds. I wanted a cat just for us two, as a witness to our love.

Scrolling further down, I saw a post